Staff writer
Charlene Metcalf can relate to her students who say they are nervous about school and don’t like being in a classroom.
On her first day of school as a child, every year, she would reach the front step of the school and get so nervous that she became physically ill. She said she always liked learning but was very resistant to change.
“I can understand why you say I don’t want to do this,” she tells her students. “I still don’t do well with change, but it’s silly to fail because you don’t want to do it.”
However, Metcalf also realized early on that education may be her calling. Her father was a professor at Pittsburg State and Emporia State universities so education was always around.
“My parents always instructed that education will get you what you want,” she said. “Education was power. It gives you the power to make choices.”
There is a 10-year age difference between Metcalf and her younger brother and a 13-year gap between she and her younger sister. She was often the go-to relative for her brother and her sister on school work while her parents were busy.
Whenever Metcalf and other children played school, she insisted on being the teacher.
“It was just something I always wanted to do,” she said.
Metcalf has taught in Marion for 32 years, most of which has been spent in her resource teaching position at Marion Middle School. Lately she focuses more on math and language arts, but she helps students with social studies and science when they need extra help.
Recently, MMS Principal Tod Gordon walked into Metcalf’s room and asked if she had heard from the state department. She asked what that inquiry was about and he told her that Marion counselor Phoebe Janzen nominated Metcalf for Kansas Special Educator of the Year. Metcalf will be one of six recipients of the award Saturday in Topeka.
“It was quite a surprise,” Metcalf said. “I didn’t know Phoebe put me up for it.”
Metcalf said she experienced long-term success as a special educator because of her sense of humor and her patience.
She does not approach subjects in an orthodox manner. She tries to have students remember pneumonic keys or other tricks for test questions.
For one example, Metcalf sings “Secret Agent Man” as a reminder that Ag represents silver on the periodic table of elements. The Lone Ranger was a secret agent for the government and he used silver bullets and agent starts with Ag — silver.
“Studies show that if you’re having difficulty learning it may take 40 to 200 times to get it,” she said. “Sometimes outrageous is what you remember.”
Metcalf said she always tries to improve the confidence of her students. Some students tell her that they will fail even before they try. Metcalf will keep encouraging them to try and more often than not she will find a way for students to succeed.
“They’re trying to change the way they are,” she said. “They’re coming into a new situation and can be whoever they want. Whatever happened in elementary school is over and done with.”
Her patience also applies to students who behave rambunctiously. She said she will allow students to throw tantrums or curse until they stop, but she will not give into a student. Her no means no.
Metcalf said she enjoys allowing students to express their thoughts and opinions. Seeing their progress is her greatest joy.
“I help them realize they’re capable of making decisions,” she said. “They have a tendency to feel and sometimes its unbridled. You see everything in their life.”
Recently, Metcalf had her students read and discuss a book called the “Ultimate Gift.” In the book, a deceased man has his nephew perform tasks to earn an inheritance. The nephew has to learn about hard work, charity, and forgiveness.
As an illustration of the philanthropy the book teaches, she went to a tollbooth in Emporia, where she lives, and gave the attendant $50 for the next several cars.
“You can be a philanthropist,” she said. “Each one of us could do something like that.”